On the 1st of December 2025, the Ambassador of the Republic of Ecuador to the State of Israel, H.E. Ms. Maria Cristina Cevallos Calero hosted an opening ceremony of the Ecuadorian Centre of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's at the ASPER - HUJI Innovate Centre located in Givat Ram.
During a state visit in May 2024, celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations, President Daniel Gilchrist Noboa Azin of Ecuador inaugurated the Ecuadorian Centre of Innovation and Entrepreneurship located at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's ASPER - HUJI Innovate Centre which was established in 2001.
The Master of Ceremonies, Dr. Amnon Dekel, Executive Director of the ASPER - HUJI Innovate Centre warmly welcomed dignitaries as well as all and sundry saying that we have developed relationships with a few Latin American countries and that Ecuador's President was here in 2024 when he inaugurated the Centre.
The President of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Prof. Tamir Sheafer, started his speech by saying that it is not often that we witness the opening of a diplomatic office on a university campus. Our record of translating world - class research into impactful companies and world solutions is drawing an increasing number of global partners to engage with us and sign cooperation agreements. The very Centre which we are officially opening today, represents a vision of the future embodying a growing tapestry of global partnerships - supporting co - learning, research, teaching, training, development and international cooperation. Today the government of Ecuador has chosen to do precisely that by establishing an official diplomatic presence on our Edmond Safra campus. For the State of Israel, this decision not only affirms recognition of Jerusalem but also an integral part of our nation. For us the university, this moment signals a meaningful message that the scientific excellence pursued here attracts forward looking governments seeking to learn, collaborate and participate. We look forward to collaboration between researchers, students, innovators both from Ecuador and Israel where we can concomitantly work together in order to address challenges facing both our societies and to create successful ventures capable of offering solutions to the wider world. He concluded by saying that we are delighted to welcome this new office to our campus hoping that it will serve as a catalyst for broader and deeper cooperation in the years ahead.
Israel's Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mr. Gideon Sa'ar said that Ecuador, under the leadersip of President Noboa, is among Israel's greatest friends. Ecuador stood by us during some of our most challenging moments and supported our right to self - defence. Ecuador has designated Iran's Revolutionary Guards, Hezbollah and Hamas as terrorist organizations. Immediately after having been reelected by a clear majority, President Noboa visited Israel being the second Ecuadorian President to do so. During his visit he inaugurated this Centre whose opening we celebrate today. He is currently fighting narco - terrorism and reducing Ecuador's poverty rates. Under him, Ecuador has a foreign policy with a clear moral dimension. Israel and Ecuador have close and long standing relations as Ecuador welcomed Jewish refugees fleeing the Holocaust. In 1947 Ecuador voted for the establishment of the Jewish state and in 1950 full diplomatic relations were initiated. He has pledged that in the Spring of 2026, Ecuador's Embassy will be relocating to Jerusalem. Through the opening of this Centre, we are strengthening our ties in the fields of innovation, and people to people partnerships. I intend to visit Ecuador by 2026 as part of my commitment to strengthen our relationship. He concluded by congratulating Ecuador's government for this step taken. Many thanks to Ecuador's President Noboa, Ecuador's Foreign Minister H.E. Ms. Gabriela Sommerfeld and Ecuador's Ambassador to Israel, H.E. Ms Maria Cristina Cavallos for their friendship, also a million thanks to the President of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Prof. Tamir Sheafer for hosting this diplomatic centre.
The Ambassador of Ecuador to Israel, H.E. Ms. Maria Cristina Cevallos Calero surprised everyone by addressing the audience in impeccable Hebrew. The opening of the Ecuadorian Centre of Innovation and Entrepreneurship is a consolidated initiative to intensify Ecuador and Israel's relationship. Innovation and entrepreneurship can strengthen our nations as innovation opens doors and gives society the opportunity to expand. Innovation strengthens the economy creating new products and services. Innovation does not flourish in isolation but with partnerships and healthy collaborative efforts between governments, the private sector, civil society and universities, all being a necessity for innovation to take root. It is imperative to finance new projects and initiatives by granting companies and start ups the opportunity to flourish. Education in A.I., mathematics, life sciences and computers is a must for a prosperous society. We can strengthen our relationship in the fields of innovation, water resources and energy. My heartfelt gratitude and thanks to the Hebrew University for their support. I am filled with a great sense of pride as my country is opening a diplomatic office at the Hebrew University's campus as I studied here. My thanks to the team at the Embassy and as we look to the future, for those who embrace innovation, it will lead to global development and advancement.
The opening ceremony ended with the cutting of the ribbon symbolizing the Centre's official opening.
The President of the Hebrew University presented H.E. Ms. Maria Cristina Cevallos with a book on Albert Einstein's life who was a co - founder, serving on the University's board, in 1952 he refused the position of President of the Hebrew University. Upon his demise, he bequeathed all his intellectual property to the university.
Among the many notable guests attending the opening were the Ambassadors of Guatemala, Costa Rica, Peru and Paraguay, Diplomats, Mr. Pablo Harstein - Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of the Argentine Republic, Mr. Jai F. Morales Allan - Minister Counsellor of the Embassy of Guatemala, Prof. Guy Harpaz - the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Vice President for International Affairs, H.E. Mr. Amir Ofek - Foreign Ministry's Deputy Director General for Latin America and the Caribbean, H.E. Mr. Edwin Yabo - Foreign Ministry's Director of South American Department in the Latin American Division, H.E. Mr. Itai Bardov - Foreign Ministry's Chief of Staff for Foreign Policy to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Maor Ifrah - Advisor to the Foreign Ministry's Director General, Mr. Gabriel Hayon - Chairman of the Diplomatic Institute, Mr. Tony Raichler - the Knesset's Head of International Affairs for Latin America, Ms. Ika Chocolate - Ambassador of Ecuadorian Chocolate in Israel, H.E. Mr. Zeev Harel - Israel's former Ambassador to Ecuador, Osher Shkalim - Knesset Member, MS. Miriam Berger - Director General of the Latin - American Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Mauricio Dimat - Coordinator of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Entrepreneurship and Innovation with Latin America, Ms. Ana Belen Chavez - Director of the Ecuadorian Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Mr. Nathan Allalouf - Honorary Consul of Costa Rica and President of the Allalouf Group, Mr. Jonathan Talsky - a lawyer representing Dr Gidon Fisher and Co. Law Firm, Mr. Sagi Einav - Climatech's CEO and founder, Ms. Shiri Milo Locker - Climatech's Co-founder - Business Development and Ms. Ilana Shaked - Granilax's International Markets Development.
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